Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



42 lbsource ofi'luid Pressure.

C. S. SNAVELY.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATJUN FILED OCT. 2, I919.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

INVENTOR M ATTORNEY Tofa'ZZ whom it ant mm 1;; l in Beit known-thatl, GLAimNCESQSNA Y, ,zt citizen of the-.Unitetl'stzites'gi; residing at y nd,

State .of Pennsylvania, havejfinVen-ted o'er t in; new, end fnse ful Improvements in Rail-1' 1"Way;llraific gontnollingfApp'iir ms, 7 I the following is [at specificatio i My inventionirelates toreil 1 0 trolling appar'atiis fzind ,perticu a1 conip'rised in the apparatus shown; in

onnnnncnfs. snnvnnx ionr rrsianiteii, rn'iwiwsynvmriri, AssiGirOnuro UNION swITcH- & 'sremincoivirnmr'for swrssvALn' Pittsburgh,' :iii the county of Alleglie zlrittus Whereina pliirelity ofi' 'ziilw'ztyiswiteh are controlled from a: centraljpoint, App; ratns embodying my invention 'is-.-e'speci'z lly L h adapted for'the control ofswitches 'in fr'eight '15 classification yards, alt'l1ong1r it,isjiiotjhrh' "ited to this; ddaptetion. f}

j out the novelfeetnresthereof in claiins: v

' 0' "In the j accompanying drawings, Figure l 1 is a, iew, partly'rlizigrtnnnaticg zti'id pertly in; 1 7p erspective, showing one forin of app ziratns} V r ll i embodying my invention.

howmg 1n front elevation one imachinei 'u'n t 1. Fig.3;is a top view-of thei shoWn-inFigs.lendfQ. Simileieferenc'e characters r fer t il'ar parts in each: oftheviewssi clmracter Adesignates'. a railway, switch whi'chis operated bye fluid'pressurefliiotor,'

. device 13, and which xnotor'devic'e is in'turn controlled by. va clrcu t {controller -G:vfO1l 111I1 part of a machine iniitivhichfi-s designzitec as a fivhole by the reference character D. The motor device B- coniprises zt'cp1ston 11 ends of the'cylinder 2 by means of alves controlled by twon agnets' N andjR the' operation ,being such that the j switch} is moved" in one clirec'tioncr thev other accord- -15 ing' as mit -net N kor nm' 'netjReis 'e1ier 'ized.

to U V v D .i .7 I) 7 yThe machine iinit D comprisese shzt'it 6' mounted to rock between two 9Xtreine.:posi-' tions on ar lo igitudinztl;exiwantl which shaft 7. opeiutes'tl 'e circuit contr'ollerCi {This c'ir-f' cuit controller. comprlse'salcontact finger 3 whichis actuated by the shaft Gendis'mo ed f 'oclzed to one extreme position'or 'the other.

' c 1 fi s slhown hiirfigfifl shzttt Gerbera o its extreme left-he'nd position, which l'will'term the norrnal sition, wherein contact 3+5 is,

gil ed, the circuit lloeing from it "baits-r5133? Blind; pressure is this admitted to 'nn'nsY vAmA n -oonrortA'rion 0F c closed; Tliis"-cei1ses-Inagnet N t0. be enere ncl oii'cylindei 2, s' oithztt switch ":the'position shot-:11, whichl will position, contact 3 Y 5}will beopened candcon- Fluidlpressure will-their be admitted to the tr ct BffWill' be. closed; whereupon "magnet: 1 R?" will become energized throiighjwire 1 1 I 1 l ,v 'l'n agn N c Will become "deenergiz'ed. i 1 1,15. eni boclying my invention, ;1ndj will the r 13 oi-nt;

lower end of cylinder2 sothttt switch A will hernoved to its other-extreme positiciniwhich I Will-term the ,re rerse? position. "Me'giits N and It nizty appropriately be terinfedj the normal and reverse magnets; respectively;

.doenerg i zed, but that the shaft is released when'jthecinagnet is energized; Th1s'2'trmeis IIlOVBChiHtO and onto-f a; Visible position behind a'iiopening flr (see Fig.2) according asthe magnet E is deenergized or'energized. Thema gnet E also controls 'apolarized la rmatu re Pwhich, as here showinis in; the

V I provided iiith'a-jsiiitehle operating;handlejl? V. y

illheynioyements of shaft 6 are governedhy a; neutral fitr1nature7 controlled by an electro- [meg-net 'l his ermztture isprovidedwith 2t tongue 8 cooperating'with-a dog 9 on the shaft in such i'nmiherthatthe shitftislooked 1 in either "extreme 'position WhenQ-tlie magnet form 'offlzt permanent horseshoe magnet;

This arnrtture is pivotally mounted on a vei t cal ax s at and 22 to swingv between the cpolepieces of the magnet, so that when. the north pole is" adjrtcentieither pole piece the south pole is adjeceirt the other f pole.- T

piece. It followsjfthetfthis polarized armeture will swing inlone direction'oi the other assumes this position when'the mjegnetf is 1 according as'n egn'etEis' supplied tvith cur- 1 rent of one polarity or the other; As here s me. e F e mine i ase d I "to amiddle positionfby aspring 23:,"so that it ;into engagement With a fixedc'ontaGtjlortu fixed contact 5,;2'1ccording as the [shaft is 1o ters when the armaturei 15 landthe rails of a section-of track J ries a. pointer 24 which swings behind an. opening 25," and which pointer occupiesqa' position over the letter N or -the: letter 3-, according asthe armature is" swung to one extreme position or theo'ther; the pointer is, of course,

V ,111' its middle or biased position.

Magnet E s provided with a circuit.

' "w-hichgincludesa pole changer Groperated bythe switch iA es hereinafter explained, K located" adjacent the; switch n With; the

new battery F, through wires and26, resistance 27, wire 26?, track rail; 28, w re 29, Contact 46-17, wires 50 er-{1 50; polecl1angerG,wire 33Qwinding of magnet E, wire '32, pole-changer G wire 36-, track rail 28, and-wires f. and O to battery .F. The switch-I being in normal ,positiom magnet E is then energiz ed in such direction that pointer 24 is over the letter Whcn the.

switch is reversedg the circuit will-be the.

Itwill be seen that at suchtinie, a low resame, except' 'tliat. it will include a contact 46-49 and wire 50 instead of contact 30.46. 47 mu contactSOZF as hereinafter explained, and except that current of the op whereby pointer 2% will move "to a position 'over the letter R., c

Themechanism interposed between switch A and pole-changer G is as follows: Op-

Ieratively connected with the switch rails is a motionYpla-te 3S liavingacam slot 89 40 shaped las shown. (Jo-acting with thecani 7 slot is a roller 41- carriedby a bar 40 which islmounted for transverse movement with -1-es e'e to themovement of the motion plate.

:Tliebar 40 is provided with a tongue e0.

.45 whichis located between two springs es and 4529i mounted in a yoke on a v member which operates the contacts of pole-changer Cry The movements of me1nbe1*48 arecontrolled by a rod 44 which moves in O unison with the motion plate 38. Rod is carries a' dog 448 which coacts with a dog 43 onenember es 7 to prevent movement of the latter member except when the switch is in one extreme position or the other. ,The operat on of this mechanism is as followst When the sw tch 18 no the.

normal position, the motion plates 38 is in itslowestposition, as shown, so that con-v tact operating member 43 is at the extreme GO'right. When the switch A begins to move toward the reverse p0sit on,-dog 4 L on red 4 4 moves into the path of dog 43 thereby locking the operating member 43. During the movementof theswitch, L0 is m0ved to the left, thereby compressing spring 42,

with a snap action under the influence of and upon the completion of the movement ofthe switch, dog se -moves out of the path of dog 43; so that the operating member 43 moves to its eXtremeleft-hand position spring42. a It will be' seen, therefore,.that

" p0le change1i G occupies one positionor the other. according as the switch is I in normal of a full movement of the switch where place with a. snap action.

j The, CilCilltffOr magnet E is controlled by the switch in such niannertliat a resist- .ance 45 is included inthis circuit whenever switch in the position shown; this circuit upon the reversal of the pole-changer takes the switch isfinany intermediate position,

but that this resistance is'bridged by a"low resistanceshunt whenthe switch occupies finger 46.1 Nliei .the switcli is in the normal pos1t1on',the circuit for magnet E passes contact member 47, and wire 50 to wire 50..

sistance shunt is closed around resistance 45 so that. this resistance is 111 eii'ectfexcluded reverse position, the magnet circuit passes from wire29, through contact finger 46,jcontact member49, and wire 50. to wire 50; WVitlrt-heswitch in this position, therefore,

ironithe"circuit. When the switch occupies any intermediateposition, however, contact 461s notin engagement with either contact- 47 ort), sdthat resistance 45 is'then in-' eluded in the circuit of magnet E,;the path ,being irom,wire 29 through resistance to to wire 50.1

The parts. of the apparatus are so designed and;proportioned that it resistance 45 is included in the circuit for magnet E while armature 7 is closed,- theiconsequent diminution] of the current flowing in this circuit will not be suiiicient tocause. this armature to release. This diminution of middle position under the influence oi the biasing spring In other words, the cur- "rent which flows in the indication circuit when resistance 45 1s lncludedin th s circuit is above the releasing point of neutral armature 7 butbelow the releesing point of tral armature 7 and ipolarized armature P will both release. The consequent opening of'armature 7 locks the circuit'controller 11ro1nfthe'circuit. Wilhen switch A is inits 1- posite. polarity will be supplied to magnet owing to thereversal otpolci-changcr G,

f the resistance is again in effect excluded current will, however, be suiiicient to 'per- .lnit the polarized armature P to move to its shaft 6-'in*w'hichever e xtreme position it may occupy,

i The operation of the apparatuses as follows: As shown in the drawing, the switch 'A is in its normaliposition and the. other parts of the apparatus are in their positions corresponding'to this position of the .swite h. i Armature 7 isclosed, so that lever 6*1s un -i.

looked and armature 'is-swung in such direction that pointer 241 18 over the letter N on the front plate ofthe machine unit. Whe'n'it is desired to reverse'the switch A, V

the operatorrocks the shaft 6 in clockwise direction, thereby shiftingfcontaot"3 0i circui-t controller "G into engagement withcone tact 4. The consequent. deenergizatioir of normal magnet N and the energization of reverse magnet Ri 1 bauses the motor device- B to move Jswitch A .to its reverse position; As soonas the switch leaves. its'normalpm sition, the low resistance shunt around re sistance is opened, so thatpolarlzed armature P-moves to its middle position wherein'the pointer 24 is between the letters Nl and .R; When the movement ofthe switch has'ibeen completed, pole-changer G reverses with "a snapactlon, and at the samet me a low resistance shunt is closed around resist ance 45,- so" that polarized armature. P is swungfto the position wherein pointer 24is above the letter R. I Itwill be 'notedthat during: this) entire operation the indication foregoin without further explanation.

(It wil be observedqthat failure of'the; switch to complete'its'gmovement will not open the circuit for magnet E,andfconse 's quently, 'I am enabled to ntilize'the neutral armature 7 and .the disk 19 movedthereby I a that the switch is again -in operation, Furas 'a'track indicator, for the reason that the shunting of the track circuit alone will. cause ar1nature7 to release. 2 H

Intheevent-that' the shaft :6 isreVersed and the switch does not respond, the shaft will be left in one position with the; pointer- 1 24 in theopposite position, thus showing at once that the switch-hasfailed; to operate.

The switch can then be tried several times by throwing the shaft 6ba'ck and fortln and as soon as the indicator 24'begins to follow the movement of the shaft it will be known tlier1nore,if any question arises as to whether or not the switch is operating properly, it isv only necessary torockthe shaft '6 noting the action or inactionof the pointerf 24." One advantage of the apparatus disclosed herein is that the pointer 24-will alwaysim by circuit to afailnre of theswit'ch'to respond tothe operation ofthe control lever, and hence will giveytheoperator information asfto. the 'saiest pos tion in WlllCllgtO place'the shaft fir'when a car is approaching the switch in order. topavoid the possibility of; the: switch a moving 'under the can.

.aultiwill be obser ed that .the ;:eombination' ofcthe snap pole changer. operatedby the switch," together with the machine 5 unit shown in; the aecompanying drawings, will, wlthonlystwo wires between the'switch and dieate theilast position oj fjtheswitchprevious the unit, give separate indicationsof thecon ditio'n of the track cirouit an d the position of the swltch, and will provide for lockin 'troller: is, however, notin any way tied up due to a. fa lure of theswitch. i t

I .In' some instances it may not. be. consid ered necessary toi'cause the pointer. 24 toes sume an intermediate position during the operation'of the switch, and insuoh'instances' the resistance 45 maybe omitted and {wires 29and 50 maybe joined-bye wire .51, which o t the circuit controller Cgdue to'a car ap j I proaching the switch..j "The. circuit c011 is shown in dotted lines-inFig. 1;- C011? tact members 47,48 and 49, together withcontaot fingerf46, may then be omitted, and

the spring 28 for biasing the polarized armature P to its middleposition may likewise be omitted, With the apparatus arranged 'in' this inanner theoperation would be the same.

as explained hereinbefore,fwith the eXoeption that upon reversal of: the switch the pointer 24 will not move untilthe operation of the switch has been completed;

" Considering the machine unit in itself,

one important feature istheprovision of a longt'hin-niagnet of the'horseshoety'pe as a polarized armature; Due to tlie length of" ,thismagnet its calibration Wlll remain more nearlyconstant throughout its life than is the ease with-a shortflat magnet of the type generally used in polarized apparatus. Furthermore, thepossl bihty of the-polarity of the magnet P reversing is reduced, be:v

causeofthelarge magnetolnoti-v'e force and reluctance of this magnet. The structure of the machine un1t; pern11ts the direct iinounting of the pointer 24 upon armature P, and. so {avoids the necessity for extra.

bearings. v

It is, of course.- understood'that the fluid pressureinotor B may be replaoedby any type of motor device which can be controlled controller C oi the machine unit D.

Although'l have hereins'hown mele 1 scribed only two forms 'otapparatusqembodying myinvention, it is understood that f ,various changes and niodifications mayhe {made thereln within the scope of the appended 'ClEIlIIlS without departing from the spirit 7 and scope of myinvention.

1 ing the railsot a section of track adjacent said switch, a pole-changer in said circuit and operated by said-switch to occupy one extreme position or the other according as the switch is in normal or reverse position, a 1

magnetincludedinsaid circuit, means including a neutral armature controlled by said magnet forlocking sald circuit, con- ,trollerwhen the magnet isdeiinergized, and

position of the switch.

means including a polarized armature con- 1 trolled by-"saidunagnet for indicating the Railway .trafi ic V controlling apparatus comprising a rallway switch, a circuit controller. for governing said switch: a circuit including the rails of a sectionof track ade ]1C811t.StllCl switch, .a pole-changer operated b r the switch and an .electroma net' means ll 5 a: 2

includinga neutral armature controlled by i said magnet for locking'said circuit controller when themagnet is denergized, and means including a polarized armature controlled by said magnet for indicating the position of said switch;

Railway traiiic controlling. apparatus comprising a. railway switch, a' circuit controller for governing said'switch; a'circuit including the rails of a section oftrack; adjacent said switch, a pole-changeroperated by the switch, and an electromagnet; means including a neutralarmaturecontrolled by said magnet for locking said circuit controller-when the magnet is deenergized, an

indicator controlled by said neutral armature for showing whethersaid circuitcon troller is locked or released, and nieans'ineluding a polarized armature controlled by said magnetiorin'dicating the position of said switch K p f l. Railway trailic controlling apparatus comprising arailway switch; a circuit inswitch.

cluding the rails of a section of track-adjacent said sw tch, a pole-changer operated by the switch, and a magnet; means including a neutral armature controlled by said magnet for indicating whether or not said track sect on isloccupied, and means including a polarized armaturecontrolled by said mag netv for indicating the position of said 5. Railway traiiic controlling. apparatus comprising a railway switch, a circuit con- 7, troller for governing said switch, a polechanger, 'means controlled by said switch for reversing said pole-changerwith a snap action upon the completion oi each n iovement of the switch, an electromagnet; cirof saidswitch. i

cult including said pole-changer, said elec- V lz c onr "can" locking sul c rcuit c t olle nd in s including .a polarized: armature controlled by said magnet for,;.indicating the position "6; Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a circuit-controllertor governingsaid switch, a polechanger operativelyr connected with'said switch to occupyone extreme-position or the other according asthe switch is in one ex:

tremeiposition or the other and to:reverse with a" snap action upon completion or a movement ofzthe switch,,an electromagnet; a circuit including saidpole' changer, said electromagnet, and the rails of a section of track adjacent the switch; nieansincluding a neutral armaturej controlled by. said mag net for locking said circuit controller, and means including a polarized armature controlled byv said magnet for indicating the position ot saidswitch J i 7. Railway traltic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a circuit controller for, governing said switch 3 a circuit, including therailsof a section of trac adjacent; said switch, a magnet, and a pole-L changer operated by said switch and reversed upon the completion of a movement of the switch; means controlled by the switch for inserting a resistancein'sa-id circuit when the switch is not in one-extreme position or theother, means including a neutral armature controlled by said magnet for locking said circuit controller when the magnet is deeneiigized, a; polarized armature controlled by said magnet" and biased to: a niiddle positi'on and movable inone direcjtion or the other therefrom according to-the polarity of the current, supplied to said tromagnet, and the rails 01 a section of track magnet, and an indicator controlled by said polarized armature, for showingjthe position of the switch.

8. Railway trafliccontrolling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a circuit controller for governing said switch; a circuit including the rails of a section of track adjacent said switch, a magnet, and a pole changer operated by said switch and reversed upon the completion of amovement oi the switch; means controlled by the switch for inserting aresistance in said circuit when the switch is not; in one extreme position or the other, vmeans including a neutral armature controlled bysaid'magnetior locking said" circuitfcontroller when the magnet is de'e'nergized, a polarized armature controlled by said magnet and-biased-to a middle position and movable in one direction or the other therefrom according to the polarity of the current supplied to said magnet, and an indicator controlled by said polarized arm'at'ure'for showi'ng'the position i of the. switch,';the "parts being *so "propor tioned that when "said resistance" is 'excluded from the circuit both of said" armatures are actuated, and that when the resistanceis in V V clu'ded'inthecircuit the polarized armature; releases but the neutral armature does not release." p 9; Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a railway switch, a circuit controller for governing said switch; afcircuit including the railsof a'section of trackadjacent said switch, a magnet, and a polechanger operated by said [switch and reversed upon the completionof' a movement-* of the switch 'means controlled by j the switch for insertingla resistance in sneer- ,cuit whenithe'switch is notfinione extremef position or the other, means including aneutral armature controlled byfsaidmagnet for indicating whether or not said track sec-fl qtion is occupied, a polarized. armaturecon trolled by saidmagnet and biasedtoa middle position and moyable in one'direction or the other therefrom-according to the polarity of the current supplied to said magnet, and

an indicator controlled; by said polarized armature .for showing the position of the switch. I

V 10. In combination, railway switch, a pole-changer operated thereby, a circuit in cluding said pole-changer and the rails. of a section of track adjacent said switch, means controlled by said circuitfand responsive to theip'resence or absence of current for indicating the'presence and absence ofa car in said track section, and means controlled by said circuit and responsive to reversals of current'polarity for indicating the posi tion of said switch.

11. In combination, a railway switch, a

I circuit controller for. governing'the same, a

pole-changer operated by said switchfa circuit including said pole-changer and the rails of a section of tracl'r adjacent said switch, means controlled by said circuit and responsive to the presence and absence of current for locking said circuitcontroller, and means controlled by said circuit and re sponsive to reversals of current polarity for indicating theposition of said switch.

12. In combination, a railway switch, a pole-changer operated thereby and arranged to be reversed with a snap action upon the completion of a movement-of the switch, a

circuit includingsaid pole-changer and the rails of a section of track adjacent the switch, means controlled by said switch for inserting a resistance in said circuit when the switch is not in either extreme position,

means controlled by said circuit and responsive to the presence or absence of cur,-

" rent but {not to the diminution of current due to insertion of said resistance for indiri eating the presenceand absence of a car 111'- said track'seg ition,and means controlled'by said circuit jand responsiveto 'reversals off" current polarity and to diminution of our? rent due to insertion ofsaidresistance for indicating the position of the switch.

' 13. Ii -combination, arailway switch, a

pole-changer operated thereby and arranged ;-to be reversed upon the'completmnof each inoveinentof the switch, en-ant including said pole-changer and the rails'of of track adjacent said switch,;in'ea' 1 trolled by -said switch-for diminishing theY current iirsaidcircuit when the switch isnot in either extreme pOSItIQIiQmQELDS con--,

trolled by said"circuit and responsive tothe presence or absence of current but not tov diminution of current for;;iiidicating the presence or absence of'a car in said track.

section,"and'cmeans controlled by said-circultand responsive to reversals of current and to d minution of current IEOIYIIIdNMZHIg the position of said switch.

14.111 combination, a railway switch, a f

circuit controller '1 for governing said switch, a pole-changer opei'ated by the switch and ,arranged to' be reversednipon the completion of each movement 01 the switch, a circuit including. sa d pole-changer and the rails of a section of track adjacent said switch, means controlled by" said switch for l diminishing the current in said circuit when 3 the switch is not ineither extreme position, means controlled by said circuit and 1'6? sponsiv'e' tothe presence or absence of current but not to diminution of current for locking said circuit controller, and means controlled by said circuit and responsive to reversals of current and to diminution ofcurrent for indicatingthe position of said SWItCh.

15. In combination, a railway switch, a

circuit including the rails of a section of track adjacent said switch, means controlled by said switch for diminishing the current in said circuit when the switch is notflin either extreme position, means controlled by movement of theswitcli, a circuit including said pole-changer audtlie rails of a section of track adjacent said-switch, means controlled by said switch for diminishing the current iii-said circuit when the switch is not ineither extreme position, means icontrolled by said circuit and responsive to the presence or absence of current for indicating the presence or absence of a CHIJII said track section, and an indicator controlled by said circuit and arranged to occupy one ex- 17 In combination n railwn switch a circuit, means controlled by said switch for I diminishing the" current in said circuit. when the switch is not in either extreme position,

and means controlled by said circuit and re pole-changer operated thereby and arranged to be reversed upon the completion of each movement of the switch, a: circuit including said pole-changer, means controlled by said switch for diminishingthe current in said circuit when tlieswitch is notv in either extreme position, and-meanscontrolled by said circuit and responsive to reversals of current and to diminution of current for iiidicating the position of said switch.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V CLARENCE S. SNAVELY.

vWitnesses: v i i A. HERMANWEGNER, E. P." GRUM.' 

